Intraoperative electroencephalogram features related to frailty in older patients: an exploratory prospective observational study.

Frailty is an independent risk factor for the increased incidence of postoperative delirium (POD). To date, the effect of frailty on intraoperative electroencephalogram (EEG) changes remains unexplored. The present study, an exploratory analysis of a prospective cohort study, aimed to investigate the differences in EEG characteristics between frail and robust patients. This prospective observational study was conducted between December 2020 and November 2021. The preoperative frailty status was assessed using the FRAIL scale. The patients' baseline (before anesthesia) and intraoperative EEG data were collected using a brain function monitor. Finally, 20 robust and 26 frail older patients scheduled for elective spinal surgery or transurethral prostatectomy under propofol-based general anesthesia were included in the final analysis. Baseline and intraoperative EEG spectrogram and power spectra were compared between the frail and robust groups. No differences were observed in baseline EEG between the frail and robust groups. When the intraoperative EEG spectral parameters were compared, the alpha peak frequency (10.56 ± 0.49 vs. 10.14 ± 0.36 Hz, P = 0.002) and alpha peak, delta, theta, alpha, and beta powers were lower in the frail group. After adjusting for age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score, the FRAIL score was still negatively associated with total, delta, theta, alpha, and beta powers. Frail patients had reduced EEG (0-30 Hz) power after the induction of propofol-based general anesthesia. After adjusting for age, CCI, and MMSE score, frail patients still showed evidence of reduced δ, θ, α, and ß power.

[Research progress in anti-tumor activity and nano-drug delivery system of piperlongumine].

Piperlongumine(PL), a natural alkaloid extracted from Piperis Longi Fructus, has attracted much attention in recent years because of its strong anti-tumor activity, little toxicity to normal cells, and excellent sensitizing effect combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which endow PL with unique advantages as an anti-tumor drug. However, similar to other alkaloids, PL has low water solubility and poor bioavailability. To improve the application of PL in the clinical treatment of tumors, researchers have constructed various nano-drug delivery systems to increase the efficiency of PL delivery. This paper reviewed the physicochemical properties, anti-tumor mechanism, combined therapies, and nano-drug delivery systems of PL in recent years. The review aimed to provide a reference for further research on the anti-tumor effect and nano-drug delivery system of PL. Moreover, this review is expected to provide a reference for the development and application of PL in the anti-tumor therapies.

Swimming exercise activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha and mitigates age-related renal fibrosis in rats.

Aging results in progressive decline of renal function as well as histological alterations including glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. The objective of current study was to test the benefits of moderate swimming exercise in aged rats on renal function and structure and investigate its molecular mechanisms. Aged rats of 21-months old were given moderate swimming exercise for 12 weeks. Swimming exercise in aged rats led to reduced plasma levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. Periodic acid-Schiff staining results revealed reduced renal injury scores in aged rats after swimming exercise. Swimming exercise in aged rats mitigated renal fibrosis and downregulated the mRNA expression of Acta2, Fn, Col1a, Col4a, and Tgfb1 in kidneys. Swimming exercise in aged rats attenuated lipid accumulation and reduced levels of triglyceride in kidneys. Swimming exercise in aged rats abated oxidative stress, evidenced by reduced MDA levels and increased MnSOD activities in kidneys. Swimming exercise in aged rats inhibited NF-κB activities and reduced renal expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including MCP-1, IL-1ß and IL-6. Mechanistically, swimming exercise restored mRNA and protein expression of PPAR-α in kidney of aged rats. Furthermore, swimming exercise in aged rats increased expression of PPAR-α-targeting microRNAs including miR-21 and miR-34a. Collectively, swimming exercise activated PPAR-α, which partly explained the benefits of moderate swimming exercise in aging kidneys.

First Report of Colletotrichum truncatum Causing Anthracnose in Tobacco in China.

In July 2022, large spots were observed on the leaves of tobacco in Guangxi province, China, whose shape was round and elliptical or irregular. The margins of spots were brown or dark brown with a pale yellow centre and several small black fruiting bodies. The pathogen was isolated by tissue isolation. Diseased leaves collected were cut into small pieces, sterilized with 75% ethanol for 30s and 2% sodium hypochlorite (NaCIO) for 60s, and rinsed with sterile deionized water for three times. Each air-dried tissue segment was cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 28℃ for 5 to 7 days in the dark (Wang et al. 2022). A total of six isolates were isolated, with differences in colony shape, edge type and colony colour, and aerial mycelium morphology, with the colony shape round or subrounded, and the edge rounded crenate, dentate or sinuate. The color of the colony was initially light yellow, then gradually changed to yellow and dark yellow. After 3-4 days, white aerial mycelia gradually grew up, which was peony-like or covered the whole colony, thus the color of the colony appeared white, and then gradually changed to orange, gray or nearly black, and all six isolates rarely produced conidia, which was consistent with the description of previous reports(Mayonjo and Kapooria 2003, Feng et al. 2021, Xiao et al. 2018). Conidia were hyaline, aseptate, and falcate, with the size of 7.8 to 12.9 × 2.2 to 3.5 µm. For molecular identification, the colony PCR method was used to amplify the internal transcribed spacer(ITS), actin(ACT), chitin synthase(CHS), and beta-tubulin(TUB2) loci of the six isolates using primer pairs ITS1/ITS4, ACT-512F/ACT-783R, CHS-79F/CHS-354R, and T1/Bt2b, respectively(Cheng et al. 2014). Partial sequences were amplified, sequenced, and uploaded to GenBank (GenBank accession Nos. OP484886，OP518265，OP518266，OP756065，OP756066, and OP756067 for ITS, OP620430 to OP620435 for ACT, OP620436 to OP620441 for CHS, and OP603924 to OP603929 for TUB2). These sequences had 99 to 100% similarity with C. truncatum isolates C-118(ITS), TM19(ACT), OCC69(CHS), and CBS 120709(TUB2) in GenBank. Homology matching was performed using BLAST and a phylogenetic tree was constructed using the Neighbor-Joining (NJ) method using MEGA (7.0) software based on ITS, ACT, CHS, and TUB2 sequences, which showed that all six isolates clustered in the same score as the C. truncatum. A pathogenicity test was performed with healthy tobacco infected with mycelial plugs (about 5 mm in diameter) of six isolates of C. truncatum from a 5-day-old culture, while negative controls on the other leaves were inoculated with sterile PDA plugs. All plants were placed in a greenhouse at 25℃ to 30℃ with 90% relative humidity. The experiment was conducted three times. Five days later, all inoculated leaves had diseased spots, whereas no symptoms appeared on negative controls. The same pathogen, C. truncatum, was identified from the inoculated leaves on the basis of morphological and molecular charchseristics as described above, fulfilling Koch's postulates. In this study, it is the first time to report that the anthracnose on tobacco was caused by C. truncatum. Thus, this work provides a foundation for controlling tobacco anthracnose in the future.

Reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus by a dual-responsive fluorescent EBNA1-targeting agent with Zn2+-chelating function.

Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) plays a vital role in the maintenance of the viral genome and is the only viral protein expressed in nearly all forms of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latency and EBV-associated diseases, including numerous cancer types. To our knowledge, no specific agent against EBV genes or proteins has been established to target EBV lytic reactivation. Here we report an EBNA1- and Zn2+-responsive probe (ZRL5P4) which alone could reactivate the EBV lytic cycle through specific disruption of EBNA1. We have utilized the Zn2+ chelator to further interfere with the higher order of EBNA1 self-association. The bioprobe ZRL5P4 can respond independently to its interactions with Zn2+ and EBNA1 with different fluorescence changes. It can selectively enter the nuclei of EBV-positive cells and disrupt the oligomerization and oriP-enhanced transactivation of EBNA1. ZRL5P4 can also specifically enhance Dicer1 and PML expression, molecular events which had been reported to occur after the depletion of EBNA1 expression. Importantly, we found that treatment with ZRL5P4 alone could reactivate EBV lytic induction by expressing the early and late EBV lytic genes/proteins. Lytic induction is likely mediated by disruption of EBNA1 oligomerization and the subsequent change of Dicer1 expression. Our probe ZRL5P4 is an EBV protein-specific agent that potently reactivates EBV from latency, leading to the shrinkage of EBV-positive tumors, and our study also suggests the association of EBNA1 oligomerization with the maintenance of EBV latency.

MiR-34b-3p Impaired HUVECs Viability and Migration via Targeting PDK1 in an In Vitro Model of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) leads to poor pregnancy outcomes. The methods for GDM early diagnosis and treatment are still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the expression and diagnostic potential of miR-34b-3p in GDM patients and further analyzed the effects of miR-34b-3p on HUVECs viability and migration. The expression of miR-34b-3p was detected in HUVECs of GDM and normal pregnant women by qRT-PCR. Then the HUVECs were isolated from normal pregnant women. High glucose (HG) was used to treat the HUVECs to mimic the GDM in vitro. The cell viability and migration were determined by MTT, wound healing assay, and transwell assay. The interaction between miR-34b-3p and PDK1 was evaluated by luciferase activity assay. Our results showed that miR-34b-3p was up-regulated in HUVECs of GDM patients. Then the HUVECs were isolated from normal pregnant women and they were treated with HG to mimic the GDM in vitro. Interestingly, knockdown of miR-34b-3p restored the impairment of HG treatment-induced effects in HUVECs. More importantly, PDK1 was proved to be a potential target of miR-34b-3p. Finally, the rescue experiments confirmed that miR-34b-3p impaired cell viability and migration ability in HUVECs by targeting PDK1. These findings concluded that miR-34b-3p impaired HUVECs viability and migration in GDM by targeting PDK1, which might provide a novel perspective for the pathogenesis and underlying therapeutic target for GDM.

Analysis of survival rates and prognosis of hepatoblastoma in children: a retrospective study from a single center in China.

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common liver cancer in children, this study aims at analyzing the prognostic factors affecting the survival rates and summarizing the treatment experience. In this study, we reviewed patients with primary HB under the age of 14 years who underwent complete tumor resection from June 1997 to March 2019. The data of 72 patients were collected. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier, multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression and linear mixed model for repeated measures (LMMRM). The 5-year and the 10-year event-free survival (EFS) of all patients were 78.2% and 73%, respectively. Both the 5-year and 10-year overall survival (OS) were 85.7%. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with tumor capsule infiltration (TCI) and patients with surgical margin less than 1 cm may also have a good prognosis. The Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis results were similar to the Kaplan-Meier analysis results. LMMRM analysis showed that there were significant differences in platelet, alpha-fetoprotein, C-reactive protein and hemoglobin values after surgery in the metastasis group (P < 0.05). This study suggests that patients with TCI or narrow surgical margin (<1 cm) may also have a good prognosis, and the risk stratification of HB can be used as the latest grading standard to evaluate the prognosis of patients.

Exercise training suppresses Mst1 activation and attenuates myocardial dysfunction in mice with type 1 diabetes.

Our study was to test the effects of aerobic exercise on myocardial function in mice with type 1 diabetes and investigate the underlying mechanism associated with mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (Mst1). Wild-type mice and Mst1(-/-) mice were injected with streptozotocin to induce diabetes and given moderate-intensity exercise for 12 weeks. Phosphorylation of Mst1 was significantly enhanced in the left ventricles of diabetic mice, which was reversed by exercise training. Exercise training or Mst1 deficiency improved myocardial function and reduced myocardial fibrosis in diabetic mice. Exercise training or Mst1 deficiency reduced TUNEL-positive cells and caspase-3 activity in the myocardium of diabetic mice. Exercise training or Mst1 deficiency abated oxidative stress and reduced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species formation, attenuated mitochondrial swelling, and enhanced mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate formation and mitochondrial membrane potential in the myocardium of diabetic mice. Exercise training or Mst1 deficiency suppressed inflammation in the myocardium of diabetic mice. Furthermore, exercise training did not provide further protection in Mst1 knockout mice in diabetes. In conclusion, chronic exercise training attenuated myocardial dysfunction in mice with type 1 diabetes, at least in part, through suppressing Mst1 activation.

Novel 3-Methyl-2-alkylthio Benzothiazolyl-Based Ionic Liquids: Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibiotic Activity.

Three series of novel 3-methyl-2-alkylthio benzothiazolyl ionic liquids (ILs) were synthesized for the first time. After structural identification, their melting point, solubility, and thermostability together with antibiotic activity were determined successively. As a result, 3-methyl-2-alkylthio benzothiazolyl p-toluene sulfonate was found to have the highest antibacterial activity among the three series of ILs. Meanwhile, it has a good solubility in water as well. On the basis of comprehensive comparison with similar compounds, the effect of cations and anions of these benzothiazolium ILs on typical physical properties together with antibiotic performance was explored and discussed, which is very beneficial to take the greatest advantage of their structural designability for various purposes. Furthermore, the experiment data preliminarily discovered the relationships of the structure-properties/activities of the above three kinds ILs to a certain extent, which can provide useful references for future research and for the potential application of these new ILs as surfactant antiseptics or agricultural chemicals.

Spatial Genetic Structure and Population Dynamics of Gummy Stem Blight Fungi Within and Among Watermelon Fields in the Southeastern United States.

The epidemiology of gummy stem blight (GSB) of cucurbits, particularly the sources of inoculum for epidemics, and the regional population genetic structure of the causal fungi Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum (syn. Didymella bryoniae), S. citrulli, and S. caricae are not well understood. Our goal was to better understand the population structure and fine-scale spatial genetic structure of Stagonosporopsis spp. in the southeastern United States. Overall, 528 isolates collected from nine fields in 2012, 2013, and 2014 were genotyped with 16 microsatellite markers. In 2013, S. caricae was first detected in the southeastern United States; however, S. citrulli remained the dominant species, representing 96.4% of the isolates. Principal coordinates analysis, discriminant analysis of principle components, and analysis of molecular variance indicated that most populations of S. citrulli were genotypically diverse, yet dominated by widely distributed clones that contributed to regional population structure. Spatial genetic structure resulting from aggregation of clonal genotypes at distances of less than 10 meters was detected within two of three fields in which isolate location was recorded. Studies on the epidemiological and fitness differences between S. citrulli and S. caricae and of prevalent and widespread clones will provide insight into the population structure and species dynamics observed in GSB epidemics.

Differences in Sensitivity to a Triazole Fungicide Among Stagonosporopsis Species Causing Gummy Stem Blight of Cucurbits.

Gummy stem blight (GSB) is a destructive disease of cucurbits caused by three closely related Stagonosporopsis species. In the southeastern United States, GSB management relies heavily on triazole fungicides. Our objectives were to determine if resistance to triazoles has developed in populations of GSB fungi in the southeastern United States, and if so, to investigate the molecular basis of resistance. A tebuconazole sensitivity assay was conducted on 303 Stagonosporopsis citrulli and 19 S. caricae isolates collected from the southeastern United States in 2013 and 2014, as well as three S. citrulli, three S. cucurbitacearum, and six S. caricae isolates from other regions or years. Tebuconazole resistance was detected for all 19 S. caricae isolates from the southeastern United States and one S. caricae isolate from Brazil. All S. citrulli and S. cucurbitacearum isolates were sensitive to tebuconazole. For resistant and sensitive isolates of S. caricae, coding and promoter regions of the target gene Cyp51 were sequenced and expression levels of Cyp51 and ScAtrG (an ATP-binding cassette transporter) were measured. Tebuconazole resistance was not associated with mutations within Cyp51, multiple copies of Cyp51, changes in the promoter region, or increased expression of Cyp51 or ScAtrG. Tebuconazole resistance may explain the increase in frequency of S. caricae isolates recovered from GSB-infected cucurbits in Georgia.

[Design and Fabrication of Silver Nanoparticles/Graphen Complex Substrate and Its Application for Detecting Uranium (â ¥)].

Uranium is one of the important nuclear materials to nuclear industry. Because of the direct disposal of spent fuel, there is still a huge possibility that uranium migrates into the groundwater, causing water contamination. It is of great importance to understand the concentration and their species distribution in aqueous solutions. Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) technique has been widely used for the detection of uranium (Ⅵ). However, the interactions between uranium (Ⅵ) and SERS substrate cause the symmetric stretching vibration peak of uranium (Ⅵ) shift to low wave number direction, which is unfavorable for confirming the species of uranium (Ⅵ) in aqueous solution. For instance, the normal Raman bands of uranyl in nitric acid solution are 871 cm-1, which belongs to the symmetric stretching mode of UO2+2. However, it moves to 710 cm-1 on the surface of silver nanorods SERS substrtate. What's more, different SERS substrate causes different number of shift. Graphene has advantages of inertness and integrity as well as 2-dimensional thickness. In this paper, graphene-isolated SERS substrate which is silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)/graphene complex substrate, was designed to prevent the interaction between SERS substrate and it was analyzed by using the inert graphene layer. First of all, according to our previous work, AgNPs SERS substrate was fabricated on silicon wafer by using an ascorbic acid-actived self-assembly method. Then, AgNPs/graphene complex substrate was prepared by transfering monolayer graphene onto the self-assembly AgNPs substrate. The morphology of complex substrate was obtained by SEM. Some AgNPs link together closely to form nanochain structures. Nanochain structures were distributed evenly on the surface of silicon wafer. The 2-dimensional thickness of graphene did not affect the morphology of AgNPs. When using the complex substrate to detect uranyl nitrate (5×10-4 mol·L-1)，the Raman peak that appeared around 771 cm-1 is considered to be the symmetric stretching mode of UO2+2, shifting back about 52 cm-1 to high wave number direction when compared with AgNPs substrate, which was about ~719 cm-1. The result indicates that graphene layer isolates the interaction between AgNPs substrate and uranyl in some degree.

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Cucurbit Gummy Stem Blight Fungi Based on Microsatellite Markers.

Combining population genetics with epidemiology provides insight into the population biology of pathogens, which could lead to improved management of plant diseases. Gummy stem blight, caused by three closely related species of Stagonosporopsis-Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum (syn. Didymella bryoniae), S. citrulli, and S. caricae-is a devastating disease of cucurbits worldwide. Sources of inoculum for epidemics, mechanisms of dispersal, and the mating system of these species are not well understood. To improve our knowledge of gummy stem blight epidemiology, we developed 18 polymorphic microsatellite markers by combining microsatellite motif enrichment with next-generation sequencing. When tested on 46 isolates from diverse cucurbit hosts and regions, the markers were robust for the dominant and widely distributed S. citrulli. Within this species, we found no population structure based on broad-scale geographic region or host of origin. Using the microsatellites, a rapid polymerase chain reaction-based method was developed to distinguish the three morphologically similar species causing gummy stem blight. To better understand dispersal, reproduction, and fine-scale genetic diversity of S. citrulli within and among watermelon fields, 155 isolates from two field populations in Georgia, United States were genotyped with the 18 microsatellite loci. Although dominant and widespread clones were detected, we found relatively high genotypic diversity and recombinant genotypes consistent with outcrossing. Significant population genetic structure between the two field populations demonstrated that there is regional geographic structure and limited dispersal among fields. This study provides insight into the fine-scale genetic diversity and reproductive biology of the gummy stem blight pathogen S. citrulli in the field.

OsORC3 is required for lateral root development in rice.

The origin recognition complex (ORC) is a pivotal element in DNA replication, heterochromatin assembly, checkpoint regulation and chromosome assembly. Although the functions of the ORC have been determined in yeast and model animals, they remain largely unknown in the plant kingdom. In this study, Oryza sativa Origin Recognition Complex subunit 3 (OsORC3) was cloned using map-based cloning procedures, and functionally characterized using a rice (Oryza sativa) orc3 mutant. The mutant showed a temperature-dependent defect in lateral root (LR) development. Map-based cloning showed that a G→A mutation in the 9th exon of OsORC3 was responsible for the mutant phenotype. OsORC3 was strongly expressed in regions of active cell proliferation, including the primary root tip, stem base, lateral root primordium, emerged lateral root primordium, lateral root tip, young shoot, anther and ovary. OsORC3 knockdown plants lacked lateral roots and had a dwarf phenotype. The root meristematic zone of ORC3 knockdown plants exhibited increased cell death and reduced vital activity compared to the wild-type. CYCB1;1::GUS activity and methylene blue staining showed that lateral root primordia initiated normally in the orc3 mutant, but stopped growing before formation of the stele and ground tissue. Our results indicate that OsORC3 plays a crucial role in the emergence of lateral root primordia.

Genome characteristics reveal the impact of lichenization on lichen-forming fungus Endocarpon pusillum Hedwig (Verrucariales, Ascomycota).

BACKGROUND: Lichen is a classic mutualistic organism and the lichenization is one of the fungal symbioses. The lichen-forming fungus Endocarpon pusillum is living in symbiosis with the green alga Diplosphaera chodatii Bialsuknia as a lichen in the arid regions. RESULTS: 454 and Illumina technologies were used to sequence the genome of E. pusillum. A total of 9,285 genes were annotated in the 37.5 Mb genome of E. pusillum. Analyses of the genes provided direct molecular evidence for certain natural characteristics, such as homothallic reproduction and drought-tolerance. Comparative genomics analysis indicated that the expansion and contraction of some protein families in the E. pusillum genome reflect the specific relationship with its photosynthetic partner (D. chodatii). Co-culture experiments using the lichen-forming fungus E. pusillum and its algal partner allowed the functional identification of genes involved in the nitrogen and carbon transfer between both symbionts, and three lectins without signal peptide domains were found to be essential for the symbiotic recognition in the lichen; interestingly, the ratio of the biomass of both lichen-forming fungus and its photosynthetic partner and their contact time were found to be important for the interaction between these two symbionts. CONCLUSIONS: The present study lays a genomic analysis of the lichen-forming fungus E. pusillum for demonstrating its general biological features and the traits of the interaction between this fungus and its photosynthetic partner D. chodatii, and will provide research basis for investigating the nature of its drought resistance and symbiosis.

Small auxin upregulated RNA (SAUR) gene family in maize: identification, evolution, and its phylogenetic comparison with Arabidopsis, rice, and sorghum.

Small auxin-up RNAs (SAURs) are the early auxin-responsive genes represented by a large multigene family in plants. Here, we identified 79 SAUR gene family members from maize (Zea mays subsp. mays) by a reiterative database search and manual annotation. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the SAUR proteins from Arabidopsis, rice, sorghum, and maize had divided into 16 groups. These genes were non-randomly distributed across the maize chromosomes, and segmental duplication and tandem duplication contributed to the expansion of the maize SAUR gene family. Synteny analysis established orthology relationships and functional linkages between SAUR genes in maize and sorghum genomes. We also found that the auxin-responsive elements were conserved in the upstream sequences of maize SAUR members. Selection analyses identified some significant site-specific constraints acted on most SAUR paralogs. Expression profiles based on microarray data have provided insights into the possible functional divergence among members of the SAUR gene family. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that some of the 10 randomly selected ZmSAUR genes could be induced at least in maize shoot or root tissue tested. The results reveal a comprehensive overview of the maize SAUR gene family and may pave the way for deciphering their function during plant development.

Structural, physicochemical, and digestive properties of enzymatic debranched rice starch modified by phenolic compounds with varying structures.

The physicochemical properties of starch and phenolic acid (PA) complexes largely depend on the effect of non-covalent interactions on the microstructure of starch. However, whether there are differences and commonalities in the interactions between various types of PAs and starch remains unclear. The physicochemical properties and digestive characteristics of the complexes were investigated by pre-gelatinization of 16 structurally different PAs and pullulanase-modified rice starches screened. FT-IR and XRD results revealed that PA complexed with debranched rice starch (DRS) through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction. Benzoic/phenylacetic acid with polyhydroxy groups could enter the helical cavities of the starch chains to promote the formation of V-shaped crystals, and cinnamic acid with p-hydroxyl structure acted between starch chains in a bridging manner, both of which increased the relative crystallinity of DRS, with DRS-ellagic acid increasing to 20.03 %. The digestion and hydrolysis results indicated that the acidification and methoxylation of PA synergistically decreased the enzyme activity leading to a decrease in the digestibility of the complexes, and the resistant starch content of the DRS-vanillic acid complexes increased from 28.27 % to 71.67 %. Therefore, the selection of structurally appropriate PAs can be used for the targeted preparation of starch-based foods and materials.

Computer-assisted three-dimensional individualized extreme liver resection for hepatoblastoma in proximity to the major liver vasculature.

BACKGROUND: The management of hepatoblastoma (HB) becomes challenging when the tumor remains in close proximity to the major liver vasculature (PMV) even after a full course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). In such cases, extreme liver resection can be considered a potential option. AIM: To explore whether computer-assisted three-dimensional individualized extreme liver resection is safe and feasible for children with HB who still have PMV after a full course of NAC. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from children with HB who underwent surgical resection at our center from June 2013 to June 2023. We then analyzed the detailed clinical and three-dimensional characteristics of children with HB who still had PMV after a full course of NAC. RESULTS: Sixty-seven children diagnosed with HB underwent surgical resection. The age at diagnosis was 21.4 ± 18.8 months, and 40 boys and 27 girls were included. Fifty-nine (88.1%) patients had a single tumor, 39 (58.2%) of which was located in the right lobe of the liver. A total of 47 patients (70.1%) had PRE-TEXT III or IV. Thirty-nine patients (58.2%) underwent delayed resection. After a full course of NAC, 16 patients still had close PMV (within 1 cm in two patients, touching in 11 patients, compressing in four patients, and showing tumor thrombus in three patients). There were 6 patients of tumors in the middle lobe of the liver, and four of those patients exhibited liver anatomy variations. These 16 children underwent extreme liver resection after comprehensive preoperative evaluation. Intraoperative procedures were performed according to the preoperative plan, and the operations were successfully performed. Currently, the 3-year event-free survival of 67 children with HB is 88%. Among the 16 children who underwent extreme liver resection, three experienced recurrence, and one died due to multiple metastases. CONCLUSION: Extreme liver resection for HB that is still in close PMV after a full course of NAC is both safe and feasible. This approach not only reduces the necessity for liver transplantation but also results in a favorable prognosis. Individualized three-dimensional surgical planning is beneficial for accurate and complete resection of HB, particularly for assessing vascular involvement, remnant liver volume and anatomical variations.

Relative peripheral refraction in school children with different refractive errors using a novel multispectral refraction topographer.

AIM: To compare relative peripheral refraction (RPR) in Chinese school children with different refractive errors using multispectral refraction topography (MRT). METHODS: A total of 713 eyes of primary school children [172 emmetropia (E), 429 low myopia (LM), 80 moderate myopia (MM), and 32 low hypermetropia (LH)] aged 10 to 13y were analyzed. RPRs were measured using MRT without mydriasis. MRT results showed RPR at 0-15° (RPR 0-15), 15°-30° (RPR 15-30), and 30°-45° (RPR 30-45) annular in the inferior (RPR-I), superior (RPR-S), nasal (RPR-N), and temporal (RPR-T) quadrants. Spherical equivalent (SE) was detected and calculated using an autorefractor. RESULTS: There were significant differences of RPR 15-30 between groups MM [0.02 (-0.12; 0.18)] and LH [-0.13 (-0.36; 0.12)] (P<0.05), MM and E [-0.06 (-0.20; 0.10)] (P<0.05), and LM [-0.02 (-0.15; 0.15)] and E (P<0.05). There were also significant differences of RPR 30-45 between groups MM [0.45 (0.18; 0.74)] and E [0.29 (-0.09; 0.67)] (P<0.05), and LM [0.44 (0.14; 0.76)] and E (P<0.001). RPR values increased from the hyperopic to medium myopic group in each annular. There were significant differences of RPR-S between groups MM [-0.02 (-0.60; 0.30)] and E [-0.44 (-0.89; -0.04)] (P<0.001), and LM [-0.28 (-0.71; 0.12)] and E (P<0.05). There were also significant differences of RPR-T between groups MM [0.37 (0.21; 0.78)] and LH [0.14 (-0.52; 0.50)] (P<0.05), LM [0.41 (0.06; 0.84)] and LH (P<0.05), and LM and E [0.29 (-0.10; 0.68), P<0.05]. A Spearman's correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between RPR and SE in the 15°-30° (P=0.005), 30°-45° (P<0.05) annular (P=0.002), superior (P<0.001), and temporal (P=0.001) quadrants. CONCLUSION: Without pupil dilation, values for RPR 15-30, 30-45, RPR-S, and T shows significant differences between myopic eyes and emmetropia, and the differences are negatively correlated with SE.

Study on the Heterogeneous Nucleation Mechanism of SiCp/AZ91 Magnesium Matrix Composites under Pulse Current.

SiCp/AZ91D magnesium matrix composites with 30% SiCp were successfully prepared by pulsed current melting in this work. Then, the influences of the pulse current on the microstructure, phase composition, and heterogeneous nucleation of the experimental materials were analyzed in detail. The results show that the grain size of both the solidification matrix structure and SiC reinforcement are refined by pulse current treatment, and the refining effect is gradually more obvious with an increase in the pulse current peak value. Moreover, the pulse current reduces the chemical potential of the reaction between SiCp and Mg matrix, thus promoting the reaction between SiCp and the alloy melt and stimulating the formation of Al4C3 along the grain boundaries. Furthermore, Al4C3 and MgO, as heterogeneous nucleation substrates, can induce heterogeneous nucleation and refine the solidification matrix structure. Finally, when increasing the peak value of the pulse current, the repulsive force between the particles increases while the agglomeration phenomenon is suppressed, which results in the dispersed distribution of SiC reinforcements.